Vending machine for trading stamps



Dec. 13, 1960 K..ZE1G| E 2,964,313 l VENDING MACHINE FOR TRADING STAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 4, 1958 United States Patent VENDING MACHINE FOR TRADING STAMPSV AND THE LIKE Kenneth C. Zeigle, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to. Elec,-

` tric Vendors, Inc.,I Minneapolis, a corporation of" Minnesota Filed'. Aug. 4, 195.8', Ser. No.. 7 52,983

8. Claims.-v (CI. 226-4109),`

This invention relatesto., a. vending. machine, for dis; pensing large numbers. of articles suchastradingstamps. andy the like.

In recentyears, the use oi trading stamps by grocery stores andl other types. of commercial, retail, establishments has, become extremely popular. However, there has been a considerable, amount of diiculty in handling the stamps atthe cashier-s counters o rat the point at whichv the purchase transaction is made... It has, been common` practice in the past to bind'v a, plurality of pages of stamps together ina book and whenthe stamps are given to the customer, the clerk or cashier must page through his book` of` stamps and countV out the necessary number of stamps and then tear theseY stamps out of the bookv in whole or partV pages so as to give the customer thel proper number of stamps according to the dollar? volume ofL his purchase. It will readily be. understood thatl this process is extremely 'time-consuming for av cashierA or clerk` who is extremely busy, suchv as at. the checkout counters or modern supermarkets and the like. Furthermore, the handlingof trading stamps in this fashion in the past has caused the clerk or cashierto leave their books of stamps lying on the counter or in an exposed position so as to possibly tempt customers to steal these books of stamps. 1n the pastthere have been a considerable number of thefts of substantial quantities of these trading stamps due to this cause. Of course these trading stamps are as good as cash in large quantities because the stamps are redeemable for items of merchandise.

Anobject of my invention isto provide a new` and improved vendingmachine o-f relatively simple and inexpensive construction and operation for dispensing large numbersoftradingstamps and the like.

Another. object ot' my inventionis to provide a novel Amachine for quickly dispensing a large, but accurately counted4 number of tradingrstamps and the like in such a manner that the cashier or clerk charged with the responsibility. of distributing the stamps need only manually operate simple controls to cause dispensing of a desired number of stamps in relation to the dollar volume ofthe 'customers purchase.

A further object of my invention is the provision in a vendingmachine of apparatus for dispensing a plurality oi stamps each time the dispenser is operated.

Still further object of my invention is to provide an im` proved and novel machine for vending stamps from a roll of stamps in such a manner that the supply of stamps from the rollA is neither mutilated or damagedin anysense andtheroll ofY stamps will be unwound as the stamps are dispensed without interference orV tearing of the stamps.

Thesev and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similarY parts throughout the several viewsand in which;

ice

Fig. 1r is a front elevation view of the stampvending machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section view taken approximately on a line as indicated' at 2-2in Fig. l, and.

Fig. 3 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of the vending machine.

One form` ofA the` present invention is shown in the drawings and is described herein.

The vending machine,V which. isl indicated in, general by. numeral 1,0, includes a casing and, supporting structure 11 having, a swingable front panel. 12 hinged to. the supporting structure at 13 and'` normally locked in a closed position by a. key-operated lock. 14. The. vending machine has a. plurality of stamp. dispensers.y 15, 16 and 17 therein which are outlined in dotted lines in Fig, 1, antiy one of which,.dispenserV 15, is shown in substantial detail in Fig. 2. The dispensers 15, 1 6 and 17 are all substantially similar to. each other, but it` is specifically notedthat dispensers. 16,y and 17 are of such. width as to be adapted; to carryA a multiple rowy stampA roll so as eject a plurality ofstamps in a row each` time the dispenser is` operated. Dispenser 15 is of substantiallyl n arrower width and is` adapted to carry asingle row stamp roll 18.

Each of the dispensers 15, 16. and. 17 is a cartridge type unit having-a cartridge frame 19,. carried in a bracket structure whichV is afiixed to the casingA or supporting structure 11` ofthe machine. The cartridge-type dis: pensers 15, 16 and 1 7. are all. removable whenthe front cover 12 ofthe casing isv swung upwardly.

Means are provided for mounting the` roll of stamps 18 on the dispenser frame 19, and in the form shown, such means includel av rigid plate 21 pivotally connected by meansr of a pin22to` the.` cartridge frame, 1.9. A mounting post 23. and bearings 24 areA aiiixed totheplate 21 and are adapted to be inserted into and to be tightly tted. in the central opening 25 of the roll of stamps 18- so as toA mount theroll of stamps on its, own. center and thereby cause the stamp roll, to rotate on its own axis as the stamps are pulled olf the roll. The roll. 18 will thereby turn smoothlyV so as to materially decrease the possibility of the stamps tearing as the roll is turned and the stamps are pulledV oit. Each of the dispensers is provided with a roller 26 which is spaced' adjacent the point of tangency at which the starnps are pulled oLthe roll and which bears against the periphery of the, stamp roll, at least whenv the stamp roll 18 has a substantial diameter. Means areV provided for mounting the roller 26 to continuously urge the periphery of the roller into engagement withthe outer surface. ofthestampA roll 18', and in the formV shown such4 means. include apost 27 affixed to the plate 21, and a coil spring 28V alixedfY to theV post 27 and engaging the internal periphery of the sleeve-shaped roller 26 so as tov permity yieldingV of the roller 26.in al direction transversely of its rotation. axis. Normally they roller 26. is allowed toV freely rotate asl the stamp roll 18 is revolved sov that the periphery off` the roller 26 travels along the periphery of the roll 18. The action of theroller 26 on the stamp roll 18 is such as to prevent tearing 0f the stampsV as they areV pulled oit the roll and as.y the roll is intermittently revolved and then stopped.

Each of the ldispensers has a stamp-pulley andi ejecting mechanism which is indicated in general by numeral 29 and is substantially identical to the detailed mechanism disclosed and claimed in myJco-pending application for United States Letters Patent S,N; 447;766"iled August 4, 1954, and entitled Stamp Vending Machine, now. Patent No. 2,878,014. It is specifically pointed out that 'the mechanism 29 includes an electric solenoidfEl which, when energized will cause ejection of a single stamp A through theV slot30 in the front cover 12.L of the machine.

The other dispensers 16 and 17 each have electric solenoids E2 and E3 respectively for causing dispensing of stamps through the corresponding slots 31 and 32 of the front cover of the machine. When either of the solenoids E2 or E3 of the dispensers 16 and 17 is operated, a row of stamps including five stamps is ejected from the corresponding dispenser from the multiple row stamp roll therein.

Manually operable selectors D1 and D2 comprising telephone-type finger-operated dials are provided for controlling the operation of the dispensers 15 and 16 respectively. The dial devices D1 and D2 are of substantially conventional construction and produce a plurality of current impulses, the number of which produced is proportional to the arc through which the dials are turned and then released. For instance, if a l is dialed Aby moving the dial D1, the associated mechanism produces one current impulse.

With reference to the schematic circuit shown in Fig. 3, power is supplied at the terminals T1 and T2 for supplying energy to the buses B1, B2 and B4. Bus B1 has a control switch S1 therein adjacent the terminal T1 so as to shut down the entire machine when it is to be left idle. The switch S1 may comprise a toggle switch disposed inside the front cover 14 so that the cover may be locked and access to the switch S1 by unauthorized persons is thereby precluded.

A cam-driving motor M is provided within the housing and one side of the motor is connected directly to bus B2 and the other side of motor M is connectible to bus B1 through contact K1c. The motor M is drivably connected with a pair of cam wheels W1 and W2. The cam wheel W1 controls the operation of cam switch C3, and has a plurality, ten specifically, of lobes around the periphery thereof for operating the cam switch C3 ten times each time the wheel W1 makes a single revolution. The cam wheel W2 controls the operation of cam switches C1 and C2 which are arranged in diametrically opposed relation with respect to each other on the cam wheel W2, and the cam wheel W2 has a single depression therein for operating the cam switches C1 and C2 on alternate half revolutions thereof, or for operating each of the cam switches C1 nad C2 once during each full revolution of the cam wheel. The cam wheels W1 and W2 are driven at a substantially slower rate than the motor M and are driven through a speed reduction assembly. It has been experienced that the cam wheels W1 and W2 may be driven at such a speed as to make a complete revolution in approximately two or three seconds, and the associated circuitry controlled by the cam switches C1 and C2 and C3 will successfully operate at this rate of speed.

A relay K1 is connected to the bus B2 and is also connected to a bus B3 which is connectible to bus B1 through any of a number of parallel arranged switch contacts. Bus B3 is connectible to bus B1 through relay contacts K3b or through relay contact Klb and cam switch C1, or bus B3 is connectible to bus B1 through a manually operable push button control switch S2 which is normally open but which is closable by operation of the button on the control panel 12 of the machine, and bus B3 is also connectible to bus B1 through relay contact K2a and a second manually controllable two-position push button switch S3, the control button for which is also disposed on the front panel 12 of the machine.

It should be noted here that the manually controllable switches S2 and S3 initiate the operation of dispenser 17 and the control mechanism therefor. The switch S2 causes the dispenser 17 to operate ten times and thereby causes fifty stamps to be ejected and when the machine is used for dispensing trading stamps, the proper number of stamps are dispensed for an even tive dollar purchase when the stamps are valued at one for each ten cents of purchase value. The switch S3 when operated, causes the dispenser 17 to operate twenty times for the dispensing of one hundred stamps, which in trading stamps corresponds to the purchase value of ten dollars.

A latching relay has a latch coil K2L and a release coil KZR, and the latching coil KZL is connected directly to bus B2 and is connectible to bus B1 through relay contact K1a and through the contacts of switch S3 when shifted; and the release coil KZR is connected directly to bus B2 and is connectible to bus B1 through relay contacts K3a and through cam switch C1 when in its normal position. A second latching type relay has a locking coil K3L and a release coil KSR, both of which are connected directly to bus B2 and which are alternately connectible to bus B1 through relay contacts K2b and through cam switch C2 when shifted. The operating solenoid E3, dispenser 17, is normally connected to bus B1 and is connectible to bus B4 through series-connected relay contacts K6a and K6b and through a fuse. Relay K6 in dispenser 17 is connected directly to the bus B4 through the fuse and is connectible to bus B1 through the cam switch C3 and relay contact K1c. It will therefore be seen that as the cam wheel W1 is revolved, the lobes thereon will operate the cam switch C3 to provide current pulses which operate relay K6, the contacts of which operate to provide current pulses to the solenoid E3, and each time the solenoid E3 is operated, a row of five stamps is dispensed through the slot 32. The dispenser 17 will either dispense 50 stamps or one hundred stamps each time the operating mechanism is set into operating condition.

Operating solenoid E2 of dispenser 16 is connected directly to bus B1 and is connectible to bus B4 through relay contacts KSa and KSb and through the fuse. The operating relay K5 for dispenser 16 is connected directly to bus B4 through the fuse and is connectible to bus B1 through the dial mechanism D2 which, when operated provides current pulses to the relay KS for causing intermittent operation of the solenoid E2 whereupon to dispense stamps.

The operating solenoid E1 is connected directly to bus B1 and is connectible to bus B4 through relay contacts K4a and K4b and through the fuse. The operating relay K4 of dispenser 15 is connected directly to bus B4 through the fuse and is connectible to bus B1 through the dial mechanism D1 which, when operated, provides current pulses for intermittently operating the relay K4 and thereby causing intermittent operation of the operating solenoid E1 to effect dispensing o-f stamps.

In order to effect the dispensing of a large number of stamps, one of the push buttons S2 or S3 is operated to cause dispenser 17 to eject a large predetermined number of interconnecting stamps and simultaneously while the dispenser 17 is operating, the dials D1 and D2 may bc operated so as to cause dispensers 15 and 16 to eject the exact number of additional stamps so that the total number of stamps ejected simultaneously from the'machine corresponds to that to which the customer is entitled in relation to the dollar volume of his purchase. When switch S2 is pushed and then released, the switch will be momentarily closed and then reopened. When the switch S2 is closed, the relay K1 operates to shift the several contacts Kla, Klb and K1c thereof. Contact K1c closes to start the motor which produces rotation of the cam wheels W1 and W2, which, respectively, start the application of current pulses to the relay K6 for initiating operation of dispenser 17 and the rotation of cam wheel W2 causes shifting of cam switch C1. Closing of contact Klb provides a holding circuit for the relay K1 through the cam switch C1 to bus B1. As the rotation of the cam wheel W1 continues, causing pulsing of the relay K6 and solenoid E3 to effect ejection of stamps, the `cam wheel W2 also rotates to its first half revolution whereupon cam switch C2 operates to energize release coil K3R, with no effect, and as the cam wheel W2 continues to rotate, coil KSR is deenergized. As the ejecting of stamps continues, the cam wheel W2 will complete its All second half revolution and cam switch C1 returns to nor mal; thereby breaking the holding4 circuit for relay K1', whereupon the contacts thereofv return, to no rrnalf,V causing4 contact Klc to open and' thereby stop the motor to c ause the ejection of stampsv to stop, and contact Klb also opens to return the entire circuit to. static condition,

After the push button SZhas beenoperated, andsimul.- taneously while the dispenser 17 is operating the' dial D2 may be manually operated toV commence application of' current pulses to relay K5 and' operatingwsolenoid E2 to thereby effect dispensing of stamps from the dispenser 16, and simultaneously, the dial D1 may be operated toy supply current pulses to the relay K4' and operating solenoid El to effect ejection of stamps from dispenser 1.5.`

It should be understood that in the alternativev to operating switch S2, the switch S3 mayv be operated to effect ejection of' a block of stamps including twice as many stamps. as the block of stamps ejected upon pressing, of switchSZ. The switch S31-will -be momentarily oper.- ated and then released. Whenthe. switch S3A is` operated, the relay latching` coil. KZL causes. operation of.. the contacts K2a and. K2b The contacts K2b. shift but, have no immediate effect. The Contact KZrz. closes so as to energize relay K1 through the` switch S3. when returned to normal. Contact Kia opens to. lock out latching.' coil KZL and render the switch S3. ineffective, even if operated, until the operational cycle is. completed. Contact. Klc closes to. start the motor and start thercam. wheelsv- W1 and. W2 as previously described. Cam. switch C1 shifts and relayl contact Klb closes` to provide a holding circuit. for relay K1 through cam. switchCl to b us B1.

As the cam wheelsV revolve, ejection-ofl stamps from dispenser 17 continues. and when cam wheel` W2 completes its first half. revolution, cam switch. C21v shifts. to energize the latching coil KSL to cause. operation of the relay contacts K3a andKSb. K3b closes to provide a shunt circuit with respect to contact Klb and cam switch C1 so as to hold the relay K1 in energized condition. Contact K3a closes to prepare for energization of release coil'lKZR when the cam switch Q1 returns to normal con dition. As cam wheel W2 continues, cam switch C2 opens the circuitV to latching coilKSL and causes deenergization thereof.

As the dispensing of stamps continues, the cam wheel W2 will complete.. its, second half revolution and. cam switch C1 returnsV to normal. 'l`he motor continues.. to operatebecauserelay K1 remainsenergized. Camswitch C1 causes energization of release coil KZR, which causes return of the contacts KZa and K2b to normal, with no immediate effect. As the cam wheel W2 continues, the cam switch C1 again shifts to deenergize release coil KZR, and cam wheel W1 continues to revolve, and after a slight hesitation, the pulsing of relay K6 and solenoid E3 continues to effect continued dispensing of stamps.

As the cam wheel W2 completes its third half revolution, cam switch C2 operates again to energize release coil K3R which causes the contacts K3a and K3b to return to normal. Although contact K3b reopens, relay K1 remains energized through contact K1b and cam switch C1. As the cam wheel W2 continues rotation, the cam switch C2 turns and the release coil K3R -is deenergized.

As the cam wheel W2 completes its fourth half revolution, the application of current pulses to relay K6 and solenoid E3 will have been completed and the cam switch C1 returns to normal, thereby breaking the hold circuit for relay K1 which is deenergized and causes the contacts thereof to return to normal. Contact Klb opens, Kla recloses to prepare K2L for subsequent operation and Contact Klc opens to deenergize the motor and prevent any further pulsing of the dispenser relay and solenoid.

YAs a typical example of a transaction, assume that the customer has made a purchase in the amount of `$17.60.

ascesi d In rapid succession,` the clerk, or cashier will push the button S2, will then dial at the fifth hole ofl dial D2, will'- then push switch S3 and will then dial the first hole of dial D1. After having pushed switch S2 which causes dispensing ofv fifty stamps, dial D2 is then operated by inserting the persons finger in the fifth hole counterclockwise from the stop, revolving the dial D2 and by the time the manual operation of dial D2 is completed, the operation of dispenser 17 will have been completed and then switch S3 is immediately operated to effect dispensing of another one hundred stamps and finally, dial D1 is operated by inserting the persons finger in the first hole counterclockwise from the stop, revolving the dial D1 to effect discharging of one stam-p. Therefore it will be seen that within a very few seconds and with no effort or counting necessary on the part of the clerk or cashier, a large block of accurately counted stamps is provided for the clerk to hand to the customer.

As previously indicated, as the stamps in the rolls are pulled out, the stamps are prevented from tearing or being mutilated by the operation of the spring-pressed roller 26. It will be understood that because the stamp rolls in the dispensers 16 and 17 are five-stamps wide, the inertia of these rolls is quite substantial so that it is important that these rolls revolvel on their own centers so as to minimize the static inertia of the rolls as the stamps are intermittently pulled offfand the rolll is thereby' effectively stopped and started a multiplicity of. times during the operation of the dispenser.

It will be seen that I have provided a Vending machine for quickly and accurately dispensing extremely large numbers of trading stamps and the like which are given in direct relation to the dollar volume ofV a purchase.

lt will, of course, be understoodk that various changes maybe made in the form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of m-y invention which consists of the matter described herein and setV forth in the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for quickly and accurately dispensing large numbers of stamps, comprising a first dispenser, a second' dispenser, a switch-operated control mechanism connected with said first dispenser and constructed to ca use said first dispenser to eject a predetermined number` of stamps each time the switch is operated, and an operatingl mechanism operable simultaneously with said` control mechanism and, connected with the secondV dispenser and including a manually operated selector device causing a selected number of stamps to be dispensed when the device is operated, whereby said switch and said device may be operated in rapid succession to cause simultaneous operation of the dispensers and accurate dispensing of a large number of stamps.

2. The invention set forth in claim l wherein the se ector device comprises a rotary, finger-operated diall mechanism producing a number of dispenser-operating current pulses corresponding in number to the magnitude of the arc through which the dial is turned.

3. Apparatus for quickly and accurately dispensing large numbers of stamps, comprising first, second and third dispensers, each containing a roll of stamps to be dispensed, the roll of stamps in the second dispenser being a multiple row stamp roll whereby to cause the second dispenser to eject a plurality of stamps in a row each time the dispenser is operated, a switch-operated control mechanism connected with said first dispenser and constructed to cause said first dispenser to eject a predetermined number of stamps each time the switch is operated, and an operating mechanism operable simultaneously with said control mechanism and connected with the second and third dispensers and including a pair of rotary finger-operated dial mechanisms respectively controlling the second and third dispensers and causing a selected number of stamps to be dispensed when said dial mechanisms are operated, whereby said switch and said dial mechanisms may be operated in rapid succession to cause simultaneous operation of the dispensers and accurate dispensing of a large number of stamps.

4. Apparatus for quickly and accurately dispensing large numbers of stamps, comprising first, second and third pulse-operated dispensers for ejecting stamps in proportion to the number of pulses applied, saidvsecond dispenser being constructed to eject stamps in incremental numbers greater than one each time the dispenser is operated, a switch-operated control mechanism connected with said first dispenser and constructed to cause said rst dispenser to eject a predetermined number of stamps cach time the switch is operated, and an operating mecha nism operable simultaneously with said control mechanism and connected with the second and third dispensers and including a pair of manually operated selector devices respectively controlling said second and third dispensers and causing a selected number of stamps to be dispensed therefrom when the devices are operated, the selector device for said second dispenser being adapted to cause ejection by said second dispenser of stamps totaling in number up to the predetermined number dispensed by the rst dispenser each time the switch is operated.

5. Apparatus for quickly and accurately dispensing large numbers of stamps, comprising first and second pulse-operated dispensers for ejecting a large number of stamps in proportion to the number of current pulses applied, pulsing means applying a rapid succession of current pulses to said first dispenser, a motor having a cam-operated switching means operating the pulsing means to apply a predetermined number of pulses to the first dispenser, control means for the motor and including a manually operable switch, and manually and selectively controllable means producing a variable number of current pulses and applying the pulses to the second dispenser and adapted for operation simultaneously with said iirst dispenser, whereby to facilitate dispensing of a large, but accurately counted and variable number of stamps.

6. Apparatus for quickly and accurately dispensing large numbers of stamps, comprising first and second pulse-operated dispensers for ejecting a number of stamps in proportion to the number of current pulses applied, a motor, a cam switch connected with the first dispenser for applying current pulses thereto for operating the dispenser, a rotary cam driven by the motor and operating said cam switch, cam-operated switch means driven by the motor and connected for stopping application of current pulses to the first dispenser after application of a predetermined number of current pulses thereto, manually controllable means initiating operation of the motor, and manually and selectively controllable means producing a variable number of current pulses and applying the pulses to the second dispenser and adapted for operation simultaneously with said tirst dispenser, whereby to quickly and accurately cause dispensing of a large, but variable number of stamps.

7. Apparatus for quickly and accurately dispensing large numbers of stamps, comprising a pulse-operated dispenser constructed to eject a number of stamps in proportion to the number of pulses applied, a motor, a irst cam switch connected with the dispenser for applying current pulses for operating the dispenser, a rst rotary cam operating said switch a number of times during each revolution thereof, control means including a pair of individually operable manual devices for initiating operation of the motor, means for maintaining the motor in operation for a revolution of said iirst cam and including a second cam switch and cam means causing the operation of the motor to be interrupted when said iirst cam completes a full revolution, and means responsive to operation of whereby to interrupt operation of the motor at the end of the second full revolution of said first cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,279 Smith Dec. 14, 1909 2,258,912 Steen et al. Oct. 14, 1941 2,264,647 Stearns Dec. 2, 1941 2,712,442 Hanson July 5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 295,845 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1954 363,381 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1931 765,992 France Apr. 9, 1934 

